CHIANG MAI, Thailand – Residents along the Kok River in Mae Ai district in Chiang Mai are increasingly concerned about high arsenic levels, with tests showing more than double safe limits.
The murky river, which flows from Myanmar into Thailand, has prompted warnings for villagers to avoid its use and consumption.
The transboundary river’s contamination has also hit local tourism and raised fears of toxic flooding now that the rainy season has begun. Villagers are urging the government to negotiate with Myanmar over upstream mining pollution.
3rd Army Area Commander Lt. Gen. Kittipong Chamsuwan confirmed the issue will be discussed with Myanmar military representatives at the upcoming Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting in early July, aiming to address the source of the pollution. (TNA)
